German Chancellor Angela Merkel today criticized the US threat to introduce sanctions over the new Russian-German Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, hinting that she wants to talk with Washington, while refusing to threaten retaliatory measures.
"I don't see an alternative to talks, albeit very firm talks, to show that we don't approve of this practice. We will see how things develop with Nord Stream," Merkel said during parliamentary questions in the German parliament.
Merkel said today that negotiations between Moscow and Kiev on a new gas contract are ongoing, while Ukraine fears that as a result of the construction of Nord Stream 2, it will lose its status as a transit country for gas.
Those negotiations inspire some hope, Merkel said, adding that "it would be very inconvenient for Ukraine to lose transit commissions" because the negotiations are complicated by the dispute over the gas pipeline.
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The US is a vocal opponent of Nord Stream 2, which will transport natural gas from Russia to Germany through a 1.200-kilometer pipeline in the Baltic Sea.
Last Sunday, the US House of Representatives passed legislation that would impose sanctions on foreigners associated with ships that lay parts of the pipeline.
The Senate passed the law yesterday, and in order for it to become law, it still needs to be signed by President Donald Trump.
Like Eastern European countries that also oppose the project, the US says that the pipeline will increase Europe's energy dependence on Russia.
A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said the US government's move was a violation of international law and that the project would be completed regardless of sanctions.
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